Race Across Europe (RAE) offers young people the excitement of interrailing and the spiritual growth of a journey in missions.
Every summer, young people on the international backpacker circuit crisscross Europe by train and bus. Many stay in the busy hostels found in every European capital, great locations from which to explore the riches of culture and history. But there’s a darker side, also ready to be explored, of drugs, alcohol and anonymous sexual encounters; ‘Gen Zers’ are often hungry for spiritual truth and love but have never heard it’s Jesus they need. Hence, these hostels are places where young Jesus followers, living out something very different, cannot help but be noticed.
The race is on!
Into these mission fields come small teams of young believers participating in Race Across Europe (RAE) — short-term summer outreach adventures led by OM in the UK. Based around interrailing across Europe, RAE is designed for 18-25-year-olds who are passionate about sharing their faith, love travel and meeting new people.
In 2024 for example, three teams of participants on the four-week option set out simultaneously from the UK, taking different train routes across south and central Europe, reuniting at OM in Romania’s base. After a time of debriefing, rest and village ministry, they returned by different routes to the UK for their final debrief, having visited a total of 11 countries.
Sharing faith in hostels and on transport
During RAE, participants share the good news wherever they go: maybe ‘gossiping the gospel’ in a hostel kitchen over food prep, hosting a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) with curious new friends in the lounge area or over coffee at a street café.
As well as at accommodations, there’s lots of time to share a DBS, or talk about Jesus, with fellow passengers while travelling city to city: on a train, station platform, a ferry or coach — time in a global context to live out the gospel values of love, kindness, generosity and humility.
Partnering with OM teams
The other key feature of RAE is meaningful time living and serving with OM teams and local churches in some of the countries visited. Participants experience OM’s diverse local ministries, such as: getting involved in street evangelism, refugee ministry, youth and kids’ programmes or working with people who are homeless or addicted to drugs. This front-line exposure inspires and challenges participants to explore the call of Jesus’ Great Commission on their own futures, at a pivotal time in their lives.
A participant’s perspective
Eighteen-year-old Chloe from the UK had time to spare before starting a social work degree and joined the four-week option in June 2024. She’d been sensing God prompt her to step out of her comfort zone to share the gospel with people who didn’t know about Jesus and she really wanted to travel. RAE offered all this, so Chloe signed up for her first-ever outreach. Her team travelled through France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary to reach Romania; they returned via Austria, Croatia, Germany and Belgium. What was her verdict at the end?
“I would 100 per cent recommend this outreach to others,” says Chloe. “It’s such an amazing way to go on an adventure with God, grow in your own faith, push yourself out of your comfort zone and help and love others, like Jesus would. It’s also just so much fun, meeting so many great people from so many different countries and walks of life, exploring some super cool countries together!
“The trip definitely impacted my personal time with God and increased my confidence to share my faith with others since starting at university. I am much more open in sharing the good news of Jesus now!”
This summer’s teams are about to head out on their adventures! Please pray:
- for many opportunities to share about Jesus with other young people in hostels and while travelling
- for fruitful partnerships with local OM teams and churches
- for life-changing insights into what the Great Commission means for them!
www.uk.om.org/race-across-europe